Method to provide user interface to display menu related to image to be photographed, and photographing apparatus applying the same

ABSTRACT

A method to provide a user interface (UI) includes the UI, the present general inventive concept provides the UI to specify a certain region of an image to be photographed and to display a menu for an image displayed on a specified region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (a) from KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2008-0037264, filed on Apr. 22, 2008, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to a method to provide auser interface (UI) and a photographing apparatus applying the same.More particularly, the present general inventive concept relates to amethod to provide a user interface (UI) related to photographictechniques and a photographing apparatus applying the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, digital cameras have come to be used by most camera users. Incontrast to film cameras, a digital camera does not require film sothere is no burden when taking numerous photos. Therefore, in general, auser may photograph the same object several times to select the mostdesirable photo.

Also, as digital single lens reflex cameras (digital SLRs or DSLRs) havespread among general users, the general users increasingly wish to takehigher quality photos.

However, users must have a basic knowledge of the camera in order tobecome skillful in photographic techniques of the camera. Additionally,users should become acquainted with terms related to the photographictechniques of the camera.

Furthermore, in order to take high quality photos, users should takenumerous photos and then review the taken photos in order to select themost desirable photo.

As described above, in order to take high quality photos, the users needto learn about the photographic techniques of a camera, to becomeacquainted with terms related to the photographic techniques of thecamera, and to check numerous photos taken.

In using a camera, users wish to more easily take high quality photos.Therefore, there is demand for a camera with which users can photographhigh quality photos more easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present general inventive concept provides a method to provide auser interface (UI) to display a menu for images in a specified regionand a photographing apparatus applying the same, in order that a usercan take high quality photos more easily.

Additional aspects and utilities of the present general inventiveconcept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and,in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned bypractice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may be achieved by providing a method to provide auser interface (UI). The method includes displaying an image to bephotographed, specifying a certain region of the displayed image, anddisplaying a menu listing image effects related to an image displayed onthe specified region.

The method may further include determining a type of image displayed onthe specified region, and setting menu items according to the type ofimage determined to be displayed.

The type of image displayed on the specified region may be at least oneof an image of a person or an image of lights.

And, the menu may be related to image effects corresponding to specificphotographic techniques.

The menu may display functions in user-friendly language describingeffects on the image of using the specific photographic techniques.

The displaying may display the menu before the image is photographed.

The specifying may include receiving a user's touch through a touchscreen, and determining the specific region based on information on aposition where the user touches the touch screen.

The specifying may include determining a focused region to be thespecific region of the image to be photographed.

The specifying may determine a region on which an image related to apreset photographic mode is displayed to be the specified region of thedisplayed image.

When a user touches the touch screen on which the image to bephotographed is displayed, the displaying may display the menu on anedge of the region touched.

When the type of image displayed on the specified region cannot bedetermined, the displaying may display a menu for image effects relatedto the entire displayed image.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a photographingapparatus. The photographing apparatus includes a display unit todisplay an image to be photographed, and a control unit to specify acertain region of the displayed image and to control a menu for imageeffects related to the image displayed on the specified region to bedisplayed on the display unit.

The control unit may determine a type of image displayed on thespecified region and set menu items according to the type of imagedetermined to be displayed.

The type of image displayed on the specified region may be at least oneof an image of a person or an image of lights.

The menu may be a menu for image effects corresponding to specificphotographic techniques.

The menu may display functions in user-friendly language describingimage effects of using specific photographic techniques.

The control unit may control the menu to be displayed before the imageis photographed.

The display unit may be provided with a touch screen to receive a user'stouch, and the control unit may determine the specified region based oninformation on a position where the user touches the touch screen.

The control unit may determine a focused region to be the specifiedregion of the image to be photographed.

The control unit may determine a region on which an image related to apreset photographic mode is displayed to be the specified region of thedisplayed image.

When a user touches the touch screen displayed on which the image to bephotographed is displayed, the control unit controls the menu to bedisplayed on an edge of the region touched.

When the type of image displayed on the specified region cannot bedetermined, the control unit controls a menu for image effects relatedto the entire displayed image to be displayed.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a method to providea user interface (UI). The method includes setting a photographic mode,determining a type of image to correspond to the set photographic mode,and setting menu items for image effects related to the type of imagedetermined.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a photographingapparatus including a display unit to display an image to bephotographed, and a control unit to determine a type of the image, andto set menu items corresponding to the type of the image.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a photographingmethod including displaying an image to be photographed, determining atype of the image, and setting menu items corresponding to the type ofthe image.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the generalinventive concept may also be achieved by providing a computer-readablerecording medium having embodied thereon a computer program to execute amethod, wherein the method including displaying an image to bephotographed, determining a type of the image, and setting menu itemscorresponding to the type of the image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and utilities of the present generalinventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated fromthe following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a digital camera to which anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept can beapplied;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating a method to provide a user interfaceto display a menu for an image on a specified region according to anexemplary embodiment of present general inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a process to select a menu for an image ona specified region according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a method to determine a region displayinga person's face as a specified region based on the information of atouched position according to an exemplary embodiment of present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a method to determine a region displayinga light region as a specified region based on the information of atouched position according to an exemplary embodiment of present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a method to determine a region in which aperson's face is focused as a specified region according to anotherexemplary embodiment of present general inventive concept;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a method to determine a region in which alight region is focused as a specified region according to anotherexemplary embodiment of present general inventive concept;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a method to determine a region displayingan image related to a photographic mode as a specified region accordingto another exemplary embodiment of present general inventive concept;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a process to select an item “lighter face”according to an exemplary embodiment of present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a process to select an item “hazierbackground” according to an exemplary embodiment of present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a process to select an item “brighterlight” according to an exemplary embodiment of present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a process to select an item “coolercolor” according to an exemplary embodiment of present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a process to select an item “softlyflowing water” according to an exemplary embodiment of present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a process to select an item “lighter”according to an exemplary embodiment of present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a case where a menu has two itemsaccording to another exemplary embodiment of present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a case where a menu has six itemsaccording to another exemplary embodiment of present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a case where a menu has eight itemsaccording to another exemplary embodiment of present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a case where items of a menu aredisplayed as images according to another exemplary embodiment of presentgeneral inventive concept; and

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a case wherein an operating key isprovided to select a menu item according to another exemplary embodimentof present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the presentgeneral inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeelements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order toexplain the present general inventive concept by referring to thefigures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus to which anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept can beapplied. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus is a digital cameraincluding a lens unit 110, an image pick-up device 120, an imageprocessing unit 130, an image outputting unit 140, a codec 150, astorage unit 160, a touch screen 170, and a control unit 180. Theapparatus may be a computer mounted with a digital camera. In this case,at least one of the lens unit 110 and the image pickup unit 120 isdisposed in the digital camera, and other units can be disposed in thecomputer.

The lens unit 110 collects light to allow an optical image to focus onan image pick-up region.

The image pick-up device 120 photoelectrically converts light incidentthrough a lens into electrical signals and performs signal processing onthe electrical signals. The image pick-up device 120 performing such afunction includes an image sensor and an AD converter. The image sensoroutputs image signals in analog form, and the AD convert converts andoutputs the image signals in digital form.

The image processing unit 130 performs signal processing on images inputfrom the image pick-up device 120 and transmits the processed imagesignals to display photographed images to the image outputting unit 140.The image processing unit 130 also outputs the processed image signalsto the codec 150 in order to store the photographed images.

More specifically, the image processing unit 130 performs functionsincluding digital zoom, auto white balance (AWB), auto focus (AF), andauto exposure (AE), etc., in order to control format conversion andimage scaling of the image signals output from the image pick-up device120.

The image outputting unit 140 outputs the image signals received fromthe image processing unit 130 to the touch screen 170, which may be aninternal display apparatus or an external outputting terminal.

The codec 150 encodes the image signals received from the imageprocessing unit 130, and transmits the encoded image signals to thestorage unit 160. The codec 150 also decodes the encoded image signalsstored in the storage unit 160, and transmits the decoded image signalsto the image processing unit 130.

That is, the codec 150 encodes the image signals when storing thephotographed image, and decodes the image signals when outputting thestored image to the image processing unit 130.

The storage unit 160 stores the photographed image in the image pick-updevice 120 in a compressed form. The storage unit 160 may be a flashmemory, a hard disk, a DVD, etc.

The touch screen 170 displays an image to be photographed, and receivesa user's touch and transmits the input touch to the control unit 180.

The control unit 180 controls an entire operation of the photographingapparatus. More specifically, the control unit 180 controls the imageprocessing unit 130 to perform signal processing on the photographedimage. The control unit 180 also controls the codec 150 to encode ordecode the image signals, generates a graphical user interface (GUI) andadds the generated GUI to an image to be displayed on the touch screen170,

The controller 180 specifies a certain region of the image displayed onthe touch screen 170 and controls a menu for the image displayed on thespecified region (hereinafter, referred to as the ‘specified regionmenu’) to be displayed on the touch screen.

Herein, the specified region is a region selected in order to provide oremphasize certain effects. The control unit 180 determines the specifiedregion based on position information on where a user touches the touchscreen 170. However, the control unit 180 may determine the specifiedregion to be a focused region or a region on which an image related to aparticular photographic mode is displayed as well as the region to whicha user's touch inputs,

The specified region menu is a menu to select effects for a portion ofthe image displayed on the specified region or effects for a portion ofthe image other than the portion displayed on the specified region. Forexample, the specified region menu may include items to make the portionof the image displayed on the specified region bright or dark, or tomake the area around the portion of the image displayed on the specifiedregion clear or dim.

The control unit 180 determines a type of image displayed on thespecified region, and sets menu items for the specified regionaccordingly. The type of image may be, for example, an image of aperson, an image of lights, or an image of a waterdrop, etc.

The image of the person refers to a portion of the image to bephotographed on which a person is displayed. The person'scharacteristics are specified using the person's face. Therefore, in theimage of the person, the person's face becomes the center.

The control unit 180 recognizes the person's face using facialrecognition technology. Examples of the facial recognition technologyinclude, but are not limited to, a color-based method, an edge-basedmethod, and a support vector machine (SVM)-based method, etc. Detaileddescription of the facial recognition technology will be omitted.

The image of lights refers to a portion of the image to be photographedon which lights are displayed. The portion on which lights are displayedis brighter than a surrounding background. Therefore, the control unit180 recognizes the image of lights using light recognition technology,which recognizes lights by recognizing a contrast ratio between asurrounding environment and an object. The control unit 180 determinesthe type of image displayed on the specified region using various othermethods, and sets menu items for the specified region menu accordingly.

The specified region menu is a menu related to photographic techniques.The menu items of the specified region menu are displayed inuser-friendly language. Herein, the user-friendly language refers to anexpression describing effects on the image of using specificphotographic techniques.

For example, when the menu item selected from the specified region menuis “lighter face”, a function of a corresponding item refers to asetting of photographic techniques to make a person's face brighter.Therefore, if a user selects a menu item “lighter face”, the controlunit 180 slows the shutter speed and raises the exposure correctionvalue in order that a face is brightly taken. That is, “lighter face” inuse language corresponds to “slow shutter speed and raise exposurecorrection value” in technical language.

If the specified region menu is displayed in user-friendly language, theuser can easily comprehend the functions of each item of the specifiedregion menu, as described above.

Herein, the user selects an item from the specified region menu, thecontrol unit 180 sets photographic techniques of a digital camera sothat image effects corresponding to the selected menu item can berepresented.

Herein, the photographic techniques refer to setting of the settingvalues of the camera to be set in order for the user to photograph hisdesired photo before he photographs the photo. The setting valuesrelated to photographic techniques include setting values such asaperture, shutter speed, exposure correction, color temperature, andfocal length, etc. Besides, all setting values affecting an image to bephotographed are included in the setting values related to thephotographic techniques.

That is, if the user selects a menu item from the specified region menu,the control unit 180 controls the lens unit 110 or the image pick-updevice 120 to illustrate effects of the selected menu item before animage is photographed.

The control unit 180 thus controls the specified region menu to bedisplayed before an image to be photographed is photographed.

When a touch is input on the touch screen 170, the control unit 180controls the specified region menu to be displayed on the edge of theregion where the touch is input.

When the type of image displayed on the specified region cannot bedetermined, the control unit 180 controls a menu for the entiredisplayed image to be displayed. For example, the control unit 180 maydisplay a menu including items such as “brighter” and “darker” for theentire image.

Hereinafter, an operation of a digital camera will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 is a flow chartillustrating a method to provide a user interface to display a menu foran image on a specified region according to an exemplary embodiment ofpresent general inventive concept.

A digital camera displays an image to be photographed on a touch screen170 (operation S210). When a user touches the touch screen 170(operation S220), the digital camera specifies a certain region of thedisplayed image centered on the touched position (operation S230). Thedigital camera determines a specified region based on positioninformation where the user touches the touch screen 170. However, thedigital camera may also determine the specified region to be a focusedregion and a region on which an image related to a photographic mode isdisplayed, as well as the region to which the user's touch is input.

A process to specify a region of the displayed image will be describedin detail later with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

The digital camera subsequently determines the type of image included inthe specified region (operation S240). The type of image may be, forexample, an image of a person, an image of lights, or an image ofwaterdrop, etc.

When the image on the specified region is an image of a person(operation S250-Y), a menu related to photographic techniques for animage of a person is displayed (operation S255). For example, when theimage on the specified region is an image of a person, the specifiedregion menu includes menu items such as “lighter face”, “darker face”,“sharper background”, and “hazier background”. A screen illustrating thecase when the image on the specified region is a person is illustratedin FIGS. 9 and 10.

When the image on the specified region is an image of lights (operationS260-Y), a menu related to photographic techniques related to images oflights is displayed (operation S265). For example, when the image on thespecified region is an image of lights, the specified region menuincludes items such as “warmer color”, “cooler color”, “dimmer light”,and “brighter light”. A screen illustrating the case when the image onthe specified region is an image of lights is illustrated in FIGS. 11and 12.

Meanwhile, when the image on the specified region is neither an image ofa person nor a image of lights (operation S260-N), a menu related tophotographic techniques of an entire image is displayed (operationS270). For example, the menu related to the photographic techniques forthe entire image includes “lighter”, “darker”, “warmer color”, and“cooler color”. This feature is illustrated in FIG. 14.

The digital camera is able to provide the specified region menu throughthe process as described above.

Hereinafter, a specified region menu will be described in detail withreference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a process to select amenu for an image on a specified region according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept. FIG. 3 includesscreen 3-1 310, screen 3-2 320, and screen 3-3 330.

Screen 3-1 310 illustrates a screen in which an image of a person imageto be photographed is displayed on a touch screen 170 and a user touchesa region on which a person's face is displayed. When the user touchesthe person's face, a specified region menu is displayed as illustratedin screen 3-2 320.

Screen 3-2 320 illustrates a screen on which a specified region menu 300is displayed. The specified region menu 300 includes items such as“lighter face”, “darker face”, “sharper background”, and “hazierbackground”. As illustrated in screen 3-2 320, the specified region menu300 is displayed above and below, and to the left and right of theposition to which the user's touch is input. In this manner, since thespecified region menu 300 is displayed on the edge of the position towhich the user's touch is input, the user may intuitively know that thespecified region menu 300 is a menu related to the image displayed onthe touched position.

Also, the present embodiment describes the case in which the specifiedregion menu 300 has four menu items, however, a number of menu items mayvary. For example, FIG. 15 illustrates a case in which there are twomenu items, FIG. 16 illustrates a case in which there are six menuitems, FIG. 17 illustrates a case in which there are eight menu items.

Also, the present embodiment describes a case in which menu items of thespecified region menu 300 are displayed as text in user-friendlylanguage. However, the menu items may be implemented so that resultimages to which photographic techniques corresponding to the items ofthe specified region menu 300 are applied are displayed. A screenillustrating this feature is illustrated in FIG. 18.

Screen 3-3 330 illustrates a screen where a menu item 335 “lighter face”is selected from among the menu items of the specified region menu 300.A user touches a region on which the menu items of the specified regionmenu 300 are displayed, making selecting a desired menu item from thespecified region menu 300 possible.

Also, the present embodiment describes a case where the menu items ofthe specified region menu 300 are selected using a touch screen.However, menu items may of course be selected using other operatingtechniques. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the user may selectthe specified region menu 300 using a jog shuttle 1910.

In this case, the user specifies the desired region and selects menuitems from the specified region menu 300, making selecting photographictechniques to have the desired effect on the desired region possible.

Hereinafter, various methods to determine a specified region will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

First, referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, a method to determine a specifiedregion based on information of the position touched by a user will bedescribed. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a method to determine a regiondisplaying a person's face as a specified region based on theinformation of the touched position according to an exemplary embodimentof the present general inventive concept.

In screen 4-1 410, a user touches a region on which a person's face isdisplayed on an image displayed on a touch screen 170. When the usertouches a certain position on the touch screen 170, the control unit 180determines a specified region based on the information of the touchedposition.

Screen 4-2 420 is a screen showing the determination of a specifiedregion 425 is determined. As illustrated in screen 4-2 420, the controlunit 180 determines an area ⅓ of the height and ⅓ of a length of theentire image centered on the touched position to be the specified region425. That is, a rectangle formed by the intersection of the dotted linesin screen 4-2 420 becomes the specified region 425. The dotted lines ofscreen 4-2 420 may actually be displayed or may not be displayed.

The control unit 180 determines the type of image displayed on thespecified region 425. The control unit 180 may determine that a person'sface is displayed on the specified region 425 using facial recognitiontechnology. On screen 4-2 420, since the person's face is displayed onthe specified region 425, the control unit 180 sets a menu related tothe person's face as a specified region menu.

Screen 4-3 430 is a screen on which a specified region menu isdisplayed. Since the person's face is displayed on the specified region425, it can be appreciated that the specified region menu of screen 4-3430 displays a menu related to the person's face including menu itemssuch as “lighter face”, “darker face”, “sharper background”, and “hazierbackground”.

Screen 4-4 440 is a screen on which the user touches and selects themenu item “lighter face”. When the user touches a portion of the screento display the menu item “lighter face”, the control unit 180 controlssetting values related to photographic techniques in order that theperson's face is photographed so as to appear lighter. That is, thecontrol unit 180 controls the person's face displayed on the specifiedregion 425 so that the person's face is photographed so as to appearlighter by controlling setting values related to shutter speed,aperture, or exposure correction. Also, if the user touches the menuitem “lighter face” several times, the person's face gradually becomeslighter.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a method to determine a region on whichlights are displayed to be as a specified region based on theinformation of a position touched according to an exemplary embodimentof the present general inventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, in screen 5-1 510, a user touches a regionon which lights are displayed on an image displayed on a touch screen170. When the user touches a certain position on the touch screen 170,the control unit 180 determines a specified region based on informationof the touched position.

Screen 5-2 520 is a screen illustrating the determination of a specifiedregion 525. As illustrated in screen 5-2 520, the control unit 180determines an area ⅕ of a height and ⅕ of a length of the entire imagecentered on the touched position to be the specified region 525. Thatis, a rectangle formed by an intersection of the dotted lines in screen5-2 520 becomes the specified region 525. The dotted lines of screen 5-2520 may actually be displayed or may not be displayed.

The control unit 180 determines the type of image displayed on thespecified region 525. The control unit 180 determines that lights aredisplayed on the specified region 525 using light recognitiontechnology. In screen 5-2 520, lights are displayed on the specifiedregion 525 so that the control unit 180 sets a menu related to lights asthe specified region menu.

Screen 5-3 530 is a screen on which a specified region menu isdisplayed. Since lights are displayed on the specified region 525, itcan be appreciated that the specified region menu of screen 5-3 530displays a menu related to lights including menu items such as “warmercolor”, “cooler color”, “dimmer light”, and “brighter light”.

Screen 5-4 540 is a screen on which the user touches and selects themenu item “warmer color”. When the user touches a portion of the screento display the menu item “warmer color”, the control unit 180 controlssetting values related to photographic techniques in order that thelights are photographed so as to appear warmer. That is, the controlunit 180 controls the lights displayed on the specified region 525 to bephotographed so as to appear warmer by controlling the setting valuesrelated to shutter speed, aperture, or exposure correction. Also, if theuser touches the menu item “warmer color” several times, the lights aregradually photographed so as to appear warmer.

In this manner, the specified region can be determined based on theposition touched by the user.

Hereinafter, a process to determine a focused region of an image to bephotographed to be the specified region will be described with referenceto FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a method to determine aregion on which a person's face focused is displayed to be a specifiedregion according to another exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept.

In screen 6-1 610, a focused region of an image displayed on a touchscreen 170 is determined to be a specified region 615. In general, acamera is focused on a center of an image to be photographed so thecenter of the touch screen 170 is determined to be the specified region615 in screen 6-1 610.

The control unit 180 determines the type of image displayed on thespecified region 615. The control unit 180 determines that a person'sface is displayed on the specified region 615 using facial recognitiontechnology. In screen 6-1 610, the person's face is displayed on thespecified region 615 so that the control unit 180 sets a menu related tothe person's face as a specified region menu.

Screen 6-2 620 illustrates a screen on which a specified region menu isdisplayed. If a user touches the specified region 615, namely thefocused region, the specified region menu is displayed. Since theperson's face is displayed on the specified region 615, it can beappreciated that the specified region menu in screen 6-2 620 displays amenu related to the person's face including menu items such as “lighterface”, “darker face”, “sharper background”, and “hazier background”.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a method to determine a region on which alight region is focused as a specified region according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, in screen 7-1 710, a user determines afocused region of an image displayed on a touch screen 170 to be aspecified region 715. In general, a camera is focused on a center of animage to be photographed so that the center of the touch screen 170 isdetermined to be the specified region 715 in screen 7-1 710.

The control unit 180 determines the type of image displayed on thespecified region 715. The control unit 180 determines that lights aredisplayed on the specified region 715 using light recognitiontechnology. In screen 7-1 710, the lights are displayed on the specifiedregion 715 so the control unit 180 sets a menu related to the lights asa specified region menu.

Screen 7-2 720 illustrates a screen on which a specified region menu isdisplayed. If a user touches the specified region 715, namely thefocused region, the specified region menu is displayed. Since the lightis displayed on the specified region 715, it can be appreciated that thespecified region menu in screen 7-2 720 displays a menu related to thelights including menu items such as “warmer color”, “cooler color”,“dimmer light”, and “brighter light”.

In this manner, the control unit 180 can determine the focused region tobe the specified region.

Hereinafter, a method to set a region of image related to a presetphotographic mode which is displayed to be photographed as a specifiedregion will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a viewillustrating a method to set a region displaying an image related to aphotographic mode as a specified region according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, a photographic mode operating key 810 is setto a portrait mode. When a photographic mode is set to the portraitmode, a control unit 180 determines whether a person's face is includedon an image to be photographed. When a person's face is included on animage to be photographed, the control unit 180 sets a region on whichthe person's face is displayed as a specified region.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that the person's face is set as thespecified region in screen 8-2 820. Thereafter, if a user touches thespecified region, a specified region menu related to the person's faceis displayed, as illustrated in screen 8-3 830.

The present embodiment describes the case in which a photographic modeis set to a portrait mode. However, it can of course be applied to otherphotographic modes. For example, when a photographic mode is set to anightscape mode, the control unit 180 may set a region on which light isdisplayed as a specified region. Also, when a photographic mode is setto a close-up mode, the control unit 180 may set a region on which anobject close to the lens is displayed as a specified region.

The region where the image related to the preset photographic mode canbe determined to be the specified region through the process asdescribed above.

A process whereby a user selects photographic techniques for an image tobe photographed using a specified region menu will be described withreference to FIGS. 1, 9 to 14.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a process to select a menu item “lighterface” according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept.

First, a user touches a region on which a person's face is displayed, asillustrated in screen 9-1 910. A digital camera then sets a region onwhich the person's face is displayed as a specified region. Thereafter,as illustrated in screen 9-2 920, a specified region menu for theperson's face is displayed on a touch screen 170. As illustrated inscreen 9-3 930, a user selects a menu item “lighter face”, the digitalcamera controls the setting value related to photographic techniques inorder that the person's face is photographed so as to appear lighter.Through this, as illustrated in screen 9-4 940, it can be appreciatedthat the person's face displayed on an image to be photographed becomesmuch lighter. Also, if the user touches the menu item “lighter face”several times, the digital camera controls the setting values related tophotographic techniques so that the person's face included on the imageto be photographed gradually becomes lighter.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a process to select a menu item “hazierbackground” according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 10, a user touches a region on which a person'sface is displayed, as illustrated in screen 10-1 1010. Then, a digitalcamera sets a region on which the person's face is displayed as aspecified region. Thereafter, as illustrated in screen 10-2 1020, aspecified region menu for the person's face is displayed on a touchscreen 170. As illustrated in screen 10-3 1030, a user selects a menuitem “hazier background”, and the digital camera controls the settingvalues related to photographic techniques so that the background of theperson is photographed so as to appear hazier. Through this, asillustrated in screen 10-4 1040, it can be appreciated that thebackground of the image to be photographed is displayed more hazily.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a process to select a menu item “brighterlight” according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 11, a user touches a region on which light isdisplayed, as illustrated in screen 11-1 1110. Then, a digital camerasets a region on which the light is displayed as a specified region.Thereafter, as illustrated in screen 11-2 1120, a specified region menufor the light is displayed on a touch screen 170. As illustrated inscreen 11-3 1130, a user selects a menu item “brighter light”, and thedigital camera controls the setting values related to photographictechniques so that the light is photographed so as to appear brighter.Through this, as illustrated in screen 11-4 1140, the digital cameraemphasizes rays of light displayed on an image to be photographed sothat the light included on the image is displayed so as to appearbrighter.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a process to select a menu item “coolercolor” according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 12, a user touches a region on which light isdisplayed, as illustrated in screen 12-1 1210. Then, a digital camerasets a region on which the light is displayed as a specified region.Thereafter, as illustrated in screen 12-2 1220, a specified region menufor the light is displayed on a touch screen 170. As illustrated inscreen 12-3 1230, a user selects a menu item “cooler color”, and thedigital camera controls the setting values related to photographictechniques so that color is photographed so as to appear cooler. Throughthis, as illustrated in screen 12-4 1240, the digital camera controlsthe color of the light displayed on an image to be photographed to bedisplayed with a blue-based color (color is not illustrated) so that thelight included on the image to be photographed is displayed so as toappear cooler.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a process to select a menu item “softlyflowing water” according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 13, a user touches a region on which waterdropsare displayed, as illustrated in screen 13-1 1310. A digital camera thendetects a region on which movement of waterdrops are displayed to set aregion on which the waterdrops are displayed as a specified region.Thereafter, as illustrated in screen 13-2 1320, a specified region menufor waterdrops is displayed on a touch screen 170. As illustrated inscreen 13-3 1330, a user selects a menu item “softly flowing water”, thedigital camera controls the setting values related to photographictechniques (for example, controlling the shutter speed value so theimage is photographed slowly) so that the water flow is photographed soas to appear softer. Through this, as illustrated in screen 13-4 1340,the digital camera controls the waterdrops displayed on an image to bephotographed to be softly connected in order to display the water flowincluded on the image to be photographed more softly on the touch screen170.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a process to select a menu item “lighter”according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 14, a user touches a background region of animage on which a person is displayed, as illustrated in screen 14-11410. In this case, a digital camera cannot determine the type of imagedisplayed on the touched region, so instead the digital camera displaysa menu for the entire image to be photographed. Therefore, asillustrated in screen 14-2 1420, the menu for the entire image isdisplayed on a touch screen 170. The menu for the entire image includesmenu items such as “lighter”, “darker”, “warmer color”, and “coolercolor”. As illustrated in screen 14-3 1430, a user selects a menu item“lighter”, the digital camera controls setting values related tophotographic techniques (for example, controlling the aperture value sothat aperture is opened more widely, controlling the shutter speed valueso the image is photographed slowly) in order that the entirety of theimage to be photographed is photographed so as to appear lighter.Through this, as illustrated in screen 14-4 1440, the digital cameradisplays the entirety of the image to be photographed on the touchscreen 170 more lightly.

The user may use the specified region menu through processes asdescribed above.

Hereinafter, modified embodiments of the present general inventiveconcept will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 19.

The present embodiment describes the case in which the specified regionmenu includes four menu items, however, the specified region menu mayinclude various numbers of menu items.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a case in which a menu has two menu itemsaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 15, when a specified regionmenu has two menu items, the two menu items are displayed in upward anddownward directions. However, it may of course be implemented so thatthe two menu items of the specified region menu are displayed inleftward and rightward directions.

FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a case in which a menu has six menu itemsaccording to another exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 16, when a specified regionmenu has six menu items, all six menu items are displayed on a frame ofthe specified region.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a case in which a menu has eight menuitems according to another exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 17, when a specified regionmenu has eight menu items, the respective menu items are displayed inup, down, left and right directions and in four diagonal directions.

In the present embodiment, the menu items of the specified region menuare displayed as text. However, the menu items of the specified regionmenu may of course be displayed as images. This is illustrated in FIG.18. FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a case in which items of a menu aredisplayed as images according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, items of a specified region menu may bedisplayed as images. Herein, images for each menu item correspond to theimages that would result when the photographic techniques correspondingto the respective menu items are applied.

In the case of FIG. 18, an image displayed in the upward direction ofthe specified region represents an image to which a menu item “lighterface” is applied, an image displayed in the downward direction of thespecified region represents an image to which a menu item “darker face”is applied, an image displayed in a leftward direction of the specifiedregion represents an image to which a menu item “sharper background” isapplied, and an image displayed in a rightward direction of thespecified region represents an image to which a menu item “hazierbackground” is applied.

As described above, as the images after the photographic techniques areapplied to the menu items of the specified region menu are displayed,the user can more easily check the resultant images.

The present embodiment describes the case in which the menu items of thespecified region menu are selected by touching the touch screen 170(FIG. 1). However, they may of course be selected by using otheroperating keys.

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a case in which an operating key toselect a menu is provided according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe present general inventive concept. As illustrated in FIG. 19, a usercan select menu items of a specified region menu by operating anoperating key 1910. For example, in order to select a menu item “lighterface”, the user should operate the operating key 1910 in an upwarddirection, and in order to select a menu item “hazier background”, theuser should operate the operating key 1910 in a rightward direction.

In this manner, the items of the specified region menu can be selectedusing various operating keys.

The present embodiment describes the case in which the photographingapparatus is a digital camera. However, the present general inventiveconcept may of course be applied to other photographing apparatuses. Forexample, the technical idea of the present general inventive concept maybe applied to a camcorder, a cellular phone equipped with a camera, or aPDA equipped with a camera.

The present general inventive concept can also be embodied ascomputer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. Thecomputer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recordingmedium and a computer-readable transmission medium. Thecomputer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that canstore data that can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples ofthe computer-readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, andoptical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium canalso be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that thecomputer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.The computer-readable transmission medium can transmit carrier waves orsignals (e.g., wired or wireless data transmission through theInternet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments toaccomplish the present general inventive concept can be easily construedby programmers skilled in the art to which the present general inventiveconcept pertains.

A method to provide a UI to display a menu for an image of a specifiedregion and a photographing apparatus applying the same are providedaccording to various embodiments of the present general inventiveconcept, so that a user can easily take high quality photos.

In particular, a menu for photographic techniques for each type of imageis displayed on a specified region, so a user can more easily usephotographic techniques to obtain desired effects for a desired portionof an image to be photographed.

Additionally, a menu for the photographic techniques is displayed inuser-friendly language, in which photographic effects are described soas to be easily understood, so a user can more easily select desiredphotographic techniques.

Furthermore, a menu for the photographic techniques can be selected andapplied before taking a photo, so a user can check a photo to bephotographed using selected photographic techniques before taking thephoto.

Although various embodiments of the present general inventive concepthave been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments withoutdeparting from the principles and spirit of the general inventiveconcept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and theirequivalents.

1. A method to provide a user interface (UI), the method comprising:displaying an image to be photographed; specifying a certain region ofthe displayed image; and displaying a menu listing image effects relatedto the image displayed on the specified region.
 2. The method as claimedin claim 1, further comprising: determining a type of image displayed onthe specified region; and setting menu items of the menu according tothe type of image determined to be displayed.
 3. The method as claimedin claim 2, wherein the type of image displayed on the specified regionis at least one of an image of a person or an image of lights.
 4. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the menu is related to imageeffects corresponding to specific photographic techniques.
 5. The methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein the menu displays functions inuser-friendly language describing effects on the image of using thespecific photographic techniques.
 6. The method as claimed in claim 1,wherein the displaying comprises: displaying the menu before the imageis photographed.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein thespecifying comprises: receiving a user's touch through a touch screen;and determining the specific region based on information on a positionwhere the user touches the touch screen.
 8. The method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the specifying comprises: determining a focused regionto be the specific region of the image to be photographed.
 9. The methodas claimed in claim 1, wherein the specifying comprises: determining aregion on which an image related to a preset photographic mode isdisplayed to be the specified region of the displayed image
 10. Themethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when a user touches the touchscreen on which the image to be photographed is displayed, thedisplaying comprises: displaying the menu on an edge of the regiontouched.
 11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the type ofimage displayed on the specified region cannot be determined, thedisplaying comprises: displaying a menu for image effects related to theentire displayed image.
 12. A photographing apparatus, comprising: adisplay unit to display an image to be photographed; and a control unitto specify a certain region of the displayed image and to control a menufor image effects related to the image on the specified region to bedisplayed on the display unit.
 13. The photographing apparatus asclaimed in claim 12, wherein the control unit determines the type ofimage displayed on the specified region and sets menu items according tothe type of image determined to be displayed.
 14. The photographingapparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the type of image displayed onthe specified region is at least one of an image of a person or an imageof lights.
 15. The photographing apparatus as claimed in claim 12,wherein the menu is a menu for image effects corresponding to specificphotographic techniques.
 16. The photographing apparatus as claimed inclaim 12, wherein the menu displays functions in user-friendly languagedescribing image effects of using specific photographic techniques. 17.The photographing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controlunit controls the menu to be displayed before the image is photographed.18. The photographing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein thedisplay unit is provided with a touch screen to receive a user's touch,and the control unit determines the specified region based oninformation on a position where the user touches the touch screen. 19.The photographing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controlunit determines a focused region to be the specified region of the imageto be photographed.
 20. The photographing apparatus as claimed in claim12, wherein the control unit determines a region on which an imagerelated to a preset photographic mode is displayed to be the specifiedregion of the displayed image.
 21. The photographing apparatus asclaimed in claim 12, wherein when a user touches the touch screendisplayed on which the image to be photographed is displayed, thecontrol unit controls the menu to be displayed on an edge of the regiontouched.
 22. The photographing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, whereinwhen the type of image displayed on the specified region cannot bedetermined, the control unit controls a menu for image effects relatedto the entire displayed image to be displayed.
 23. A method to provide auser interface (UI), the method comprising: setting a photographic mode;determining a type of image to correspond to the set photographic mode;and setting menu items for image effects related to the type of imagedetermined.
 24. A photographing apparatus, comprising: a display unit todisplay an image to be photographed; and a control unit to determine atype of the image, and to set menu items corresponding to the type ofthe image.
 25. A photographing method, comprising: displaying an imageto be photographed; determining a type of the image; and setting menuitems corresponding to the type of the image.
 26. A computer-readablerecording medium having embodied thereon a computer program to execute amethod, wherein the method comprises: displaying an image to bephotographed; determining a type of the image; and setting menu itemscorresponding to the type of the image.